Chapter Twenty-One

"I hate being the heartbreaker. Hate it. If I date somebody and it doesn't work out, it's another nightmare for me."

-John Mayer

Ruri stood outside the amusement park dressed in a simple cream colored dress (the one from her birthday). The emeralds from the clover hairpins sparkled under the sunlight.

"Ruri-chan!"

Touma ran up to her, wearing a tight black sweater and pants.

"Sorry. Baa-chan wouldn't let me go. Did you wait long?"

Ruri shook her head. "It was only for a few minutes. I don't mind."

"Then let's go!" Touma grinned and took her hand, pulling her to the ticket booth.

"Those hairpins look really cute," Touma pointed at the clovers in Ruri's hair.

"Thank you," Ruri smiled. "It was a birthday gift."

"Birthday gift?!" Touma's eyes bugged in shock. "I had no idea! Let me get you a gift!"

He ran into one of the gift shops and pulled Ruri in with him.

"Pick something out. I'll get it for you," he smiled, spreading his arms out.

"No, I couldn't," Ruri shook her head.

"Go ahead! Don't worry about money or anything!" he pulled her along the shelves.

Ruri spotted a shelf lined up with medium sized plushies. She slowly walked over and picked up one.

It was a white rabbit wearing a white top hat with a white cape and a monocle, grinning a very familiar grin.

"You want that one?" Touma asked. "I guess you're a KID fan, huh?"

"Eh?" she looked up at her date.

"Yeah. The Funtom company decided to make a line of rabbits featuring the thief."

She stared at the rabbit for a little while longer before it was plucked out of her hands.

"Why don't we get you a different one?" Touma placed the rabbit back on the shelf.

He plucked a brown rabbit wearing a purple bow and headed to the cashier.

He came back once it was paid for and handed it to Ruri.

"This one reminds me of you," he grinned.

The two sat in the ferris wheel, watching the fireworks go off.

Ruri did her best to keep her fear and anxiety under control as the gondola rose higher into the sky. She clutched the rabbit to her chest for comfort.

Touma didn't seem to notice, as he was too busy watching the fireworks.

The show ended just as their gondola reached the platform and they had to get off.

Touma stretched as Ruri tried not to collapse.

"Are you alright, miss?" a hand was extended her way.

Ruri turned to see a man who looked to be in his early 20's, maybe mid 20's, with pitch black hair and brown eyes.

"I'm fine, thank you," she shook her head at the man's outstretched hand and it was quickly retracted.

"Well, I hope you feel a bit better," the man smiled warmly before glancing at Touma and walking off.

"He glared at me!" Touma gritted his teeth once the man was out of sight.

Ruri looked up at the young man. "Really?"

Touma nodded.

"How was today?" Touma asked, as they walked through the park.

"It was fun," Ruri smiled. "And thank you for the rabbit."

"I hear a 'but' in there..."

"Well..."

Ruri hesitated and turned to face the man.

"I don't think I can go out with you."

Touma's face fell. "Why not?"

"I... like you, but not that way," she explained.

"As a friend, huh?" Touma smiled sadly.

Ruri nodded.

"That's fine. Ah~! At least I had a good date with you!" he stretched his arms and grinned.

"I had fun today," Ruri hugged Touma.

"Oi, you're going to give me the wrong idea, here," Touma joked, but he hugged her back.

"At least let me walk you back?" he asked, looking hopeful.

"Sure," Ruri smiled.

"How was your date, Ruri?" Aki asked, hugging the girl.

"It was fine, okaa-sama," Ruri smiled. "I turned him down though."

Aki pouted. "Why? Touma-kun is a good kid!"

A flash of realization. "You've got someone else on your mind!" Aki grinned mischievously.

Ruri sputtered. "That's not it!"

Aki's grin got even wider. She ran into the living room where Tomoharu sat, watching T.V.

"Tomo~! Ruri's got a man on her mind!"

Ruri shook her head and walked up to her room.

She opened the door and the first thing she saw was the KID rabbit from the park, sitting happily on her bed.

A little white card was placed in its paw.

Ruri took the card and began to read.

"I saw you admiring this plushie at the park earlier.

It was a shame he didn't get it for you, since you seemed to like it.

KID"

Ruri covered her face with her hand.

"It was yoooou..." she groaned, remembering the man who had offered his hand to her.

She glanced over at the rabbit who smirked at her.

The girl placed the brown rabbit next to the white one and stared at them. She stared at them with narrowed eyes.

Ruri scooted the brown rabbit closer to the white one until the were almost touching. Then the rabbit fell onto the white one, causing Ruri to frantically try to upright it.

"I'm acting like a love-struck middle schooler!" she groaned, sitting on the corner of her bed, face in her hands.

Ruri pulled the clovers out of her hair and held them in her hand.

"A birthday present..."

She smiled before going to change into her pajamas and get ready for bed.

"So how was the date?" Aoko asked, practically jumping up and down.

"We're not an item," Ruri scooted her seat out from under her desk.

"Why?"

"I didn't like him that way," she explained.

"So you turned him down?" Kaito walked over to the girls and sat on Ruri's desk.

Ruri nodded.

"Ok," the magician started doing magic tricks with his right hand.

YAY! I MANAGED TO GET A CHAPTER DONE! HALLELUJAH! *cough* Ok, well, so far I've got one vote for the pool and another one that's indecisive. I'll keep it open until next weekend but then! I shall write the next chapter. I'm already planning out Ruri's big BO run-in. If anyone has any ideas please, tell me! It might be the longest chapter yet! GO VOTE ON MY PROFILE! THERE'S A POLL THAT IS OPEN UNTIL NEXT WEEK!

NEXT CHAPTER: ?

DFTBA EVERYONE!